National Honesty Day is on Friday, April 30, 2027, and it falls on April 30 every year. It encourages people to be truthful, with others and with themselves. It’s the honest bookend to a month that starts with April Fools’ Day.
When Is National Honesty Day?
It’s April 30. Some sources list April 29, but April 30 is the date tied to its creator. It isn’t an official federal observance; there are no congressional records or presidential proclamations establishing it.
Who Started National Honesty Day?
M. Hirsh Goldberg created it in the early 1990s. Goldberg was a former press secretary to a Maryland governor. He also wrote The Book of Lies, a 1990 book about schemes and frauds through history.
He chose the last day of April on purpose. April begins with a day for pranks, so he wanted it to end with a day for telling the truth.
The Honest Abe Award
Goldberg used the day to present an Honest Abe Award. It went to a person, group or company that acted especially honorably in the previous 12 months. The name nods to Abraham Lincoln’s famous nickname.
What Is the Purpose of Honesty Day?
To encourage honest communication in families, workplaces and public life. It’s also a nudge to think about the small lies we tell without noticing.
How often do people lie? Estimates vary. A London Science Museum poll of 3,000 Britons found men reported about three lies a day and women about two.
But a 2010 analysis of American surveys found that 60% of people reported no lies at all in the past 24 hours. Most lies, it concluded, are told by a few prolific liars.
How to Celebrate National Honesty Day
- Try a white-lie-free day: notice the small fibs you’d normally tell, and find a kind, true answer instead.
- Have an overdue conversation: clear the air about something you’ve been avoiding.
- Give honest praise: tell a coworker or friend specifically what they did well.
- Own a mistake: admit an error at work or home and explain how you’ll fix it.
- Talk with kids: discuss the difference between kind honesty and hurtful bluntness.
- Nominate someone: recognize a person or business in your community for acting with integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you be honest without being hurtful?
Focus on facts and your own feelings, not insults. Choose a private moment, be specific and offer help or a solution where you can.
Is a white lie still a lie?
Technically yes, though many people see small social lies as harmless. Honesty Day invites you to look for kind truths instead.
Why do people lie?
Common reasons include avoiding conflict or punishment, protecting someone’s feelings and making a good impression.